2 more bodies found in cruise ship wreck

GIGLIO, Italy — Italian officials say two more bodies have been pulled from the wreckage of a cruise liner capsized off the Tuscan coast, bringing the number of confirmed dead to 15. The national civil protection agency official in charge of the search said Monday that divers recovered the bodies of two women from the ship’s internet cafe. The recovery of the two brings to 17 the number of known missing. However, officials over the weekend said it appeared unregistered guests were on board at the time of the accident, meaning the number of officially missing could increase. In addition, officials say experts can begin pumping fuel from the ship while divers continue the search for missing people. Admiral Ilarione dell’Anna said Monday that the fuel removal could begin as early as Tuesday. The national civil protection agency official in charge of the search said that would continue “as long as it is possible to inspect whatever can be inspected.” The decision to carry out both operations in tandem was made after it was determined that the Costa Concordia did not risk falling to a lower seabed. Fifteen people have been confirmed dead in the accident Jan. 13 when the Concordia rammed a reef and sliced its hull with 4,200 on board. Seventeen are known missing.